President Donald Trump has announced the lifting of sanctions on Syria, a decision celebrated in Damascus as a turning point. The sanctions had previously obstructed foreign aid and investment in the war-torn country. Trump aims to foster possibility for reconstruction as he prepares for talks with Syria’s interim president, marking a notable shift in U.S. foreign policy towards the region.
U.S. Moves to Lift Sanctions on Syria as Trump Prepares for Landmark Meeting
U.S. Moves to Lift Sanctions on Syria as Trump Prepares for Landmark Meeting
The U.S. government is set to lift sanctions on Syria as President Trump expresses optimism for the country’s future, coinciding with anticipated talks with Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia.
U.S. President Donald Trump has made waves with his announcement to lift longstanding sanctions on Syria, as he gears up for a significant meeting with Syrian interim leader Ahmed al-Sharaa on Wednesday in Saudi Arabia. The White House confirms that Trump will "say hello" to al-Sharaa during his Middle East tour, with the lifting of sanctions being met with jubilant celebrations in Damascus, where citizens celebrated with cheers, dancing, and gunfire.
These sanctions were originally imposed to pressure the regime of the ousted President Bashar al-Assad and had effectively blocked foreign aid and financing from entering the war-torn nation. In an investment forum held in Riyadh, Trump stated that this policy shift represents "a chance at greatness" for Syria, declaring, "it's their time to shine."
Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani praised the decision, calling it a "pivotal turning point," as the nation looks optimistically towards "stability, self-sufficiency, and genuine reconstruction" after years of ravaging civil conflict. Nearly ninety percent of Syria's population lives below the poverty line, and the new leadership has been advocating for the removal of sanctions since the fall of Assad’s regime.
Al-Sharaa has previously urged for the lifting of sanctions and emphasized Syria’s peaceful intentions at a press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron. The newly empowered leadership has vowed to safeguard ethnic minorities in the country, even as there are growing fears of violence among factional groups following a tumultuous past.
The announcement to lift sanctions is a meaningful policy shift for the U.S., which had previously tied the lifting of sanctions to improvements in minority rights within Syria. Trump's decision came at the behest of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, highlighting the intertwining of regional politics with U.S. foreign policy.
Former U.S. ambassador to Syria, Robert Ford, supported the move, noting the dire need for rebuilding, international aid, and financial input to recuperate from the consequences of the 13-year civil war. As Trump continues his tour through the Gulf, the implications of this policy shift on regional stability and recovery in Syria remain to be seen.
